Queen Anne's Battery Marina (QAB - Marina Developments Limited - MDL): 01752 671142. Alongside the Royal Western Yacht Club (RWYC) with whom I hope to be negotiating temporary membership. Helpful staff. Usually pretty full. Good restaurant at the Marina otherwise the RWYC . Excellent (!) all-day-breakfast, 'lorry-river's' café just outside. Un-salubrious pubs nearby - apart from the China House (pub and restaurant about five minutes walk). Otherwise a ten minute walk - or the foot ferry - into Plymouth (Barbican) and a good range of waterside pubs and restaurants. Showers etc. Parking for berth holders although there may be a price for visitors. Usual chandlers (best in the area), sail makers, riggers, engineers etc all on the Marina or immediately outside.

Plymouth Yacht Haven: 01752 404231. Probably the most expensive but staff are very accommodating. Close to Plymouth on the eastern side of the river Plym with a foot ferry (or your own dinghy - 10 minutes to the RWYC) to the Barbican and thence to the RWYC. Clean showers and good local pubs and restaurants. Good, free parking. Usual chandlers, sail makers, riggers, engineers etc all on the Marina or close by.

Southdown Marina: 01752 823084. Across the Tamar river from Plymouth. Don't know it but likely to be cheaper than the others. Don't know about the parking nor pubs/restaurants. Not sure how you get to Plymouth except by car/bus via the Torpoint car/foot ferry or Saltash road bridge - or by dinghy (40 minutes).

Sutton Harbour: 01752 204737. Right in the middle of Plymouth. 24 hour lock which opens on demand. Usually quite full. At least one potential entrant is already moored there. Ten minute walk to the RWYC across the lock. Probably has showers but not seen. Possible parking for berth holders but little room - don't know about costs. Barbican pubs and restaurants less than five minutes walk. Chandler nearby.

Mayflower International Marina: 01752 556633. Large but with plenty of space. Helpful staff. One restaurant - the Brasserie - otherwise a ten minute walk to the nearest (not very salubrious) pubs. I am sure it has showers but not seen. Taxi to the RWYC or your own dinghy (30 minutes). Restricted parking at a price. I believe that it runs its own bus into town during 'working hours' in the summer. Chandler (a bit 'tiddly') on the Marina.

Millbay Marina Village Management Company: 01752 226785. Close to Plymouth centre and the better pubs and restaurants . Usually pretty full as it is a marina village with owners' moorings. Don't know about showers. Taxi to the RWYC or your own dinghy (15 minutes). Don't know about the parking but probably most restricted.

Torpoint Yacht Harbour: 01752 813658. Across the Tamar river from Plymouth. Not sure how you get to Plymouth except by car/bus via the Torpoint car/foot ferry.